What can cause very low pressure. "Sleeping" sickness or how to live with low blood pressure

It should be noted that serious pathological disorders in the performance of any organs and systems can provoke the occurrence of low blood pressure. Also, its level is influenced by such as human or environmental influences.

Why does a person's pressure drop: reasons

The reasons that can provoke the occurrence of low blood pressure include the following:

  1. insufficient performance of the heart muscle. The myocardium, like any other organ, is characterized by certain failures. Subsequently, this leads to the fact that the heart begins to contract very slowly or not strong enough;
  2. insufficient tone of blood vessels. If the walls of arteries, veins and capillaries do not contract as they should, then this significantly slows down blood flow and provokes a subsequent decrease in blood pressure;
  3. total plasma volume. If it so happened that dehydration occurred in the body or there was a strong loss of blood, then the level of blood pressure begins to decline rapidly;
  4. the impact of most of the negative factors. These include the following: unbalanced and malnutrition, lack of sleep, poor ecology, constant, overvoltage, and so on. If all these factors gradually develop into permanent ones, then a little later this lifestyle will lead to various stages of hypotension.

The reasons

Pressure 90 over 50

For some, this condition is quite normal, for others it is pathological. Some people who have this kind of pressure all the time do well enough.

Moreover, they can normally cope with their duties at work, without experiencing any discomfort. Such individuals are called hypotensive, and their disease is called hypotension.

They live with chronic low blood pressure. If such an ailment has not been diagnosed, and the pressure is still within low values, then it is necessary to immediately begin to search for the causes that provoked this unpleasant condition. This is necessary to prescribe the most appropriate treatment.

It is important to note that if a person experiences not only emotional fatigue, but also constantly sleeps poorly, then this quite easily provokes the occurrence of hypotension. The second factor is an improper and unbalanced diet.

A diet that is saturated with all the nutritious micro and macro elements, and also guarantees health for the whole organism.

But the lack of useful compounds, improper diet, eating at different times - all this gradually leads to a significant decrease in the tonometer.

To the factors provoking the occurrence of pressure of 90/50 mm Hg. Art. overfatigue, physical inactivity, the complete absence of physical exertion on the muscles can be attributed. These moments can affect the lowering of the tonometer.

It is important to note that hypotension is an occupational disease of people who play sports. Surprisingly, for them, the indicators are 80/50, 80/60 mm Hg. Art. are normal. And they do not feel weakness or discomfort.

Efficiency in adverse conditions also threatens a person with a rapid decrease in blood pressure.

Such factors include professions that require being at great depths underground, in stuffy and closed rooms, hot places or in conditions of high humidity.

It is for this reason that when the first signs of hypotension occur, you should immediately contact your doctor, who will help establish an accurate diagnosis.

As a rule, in this case, the specialist will give advice to change work activities that will not be detrimental to health.

80 to 50

These values ​​​​of the tonometer signal that you should immediately consult a doctor. Just as in the previous case, some people feel great under this level of pressure, and this does not affect their work activities in any way.

The reasons for lowering blood pressure to 80 to 50 may be such moments:

It is important to note that if a person has pressure indicators of 80 to 50, then in most cases this indicates the appearance of a dangerous and life-threatening pathology in the body.

90 to 40

Lowering blood pressure to values ​​of 90/40 mm Hg. Art. may be caused by the following factors:

  1. serious disorders of the heart and blood vessels. Such ailments include heart failure, as well as a violation of the functionality of the valves;
  2. tonometer readings 90/40 mm Hg. Art. are considered normal. During this time period, the volume of circulating blood in the body of the expectant mother increases. But, as a rule, it is after childbirth that the pressure slowly returns to normal;
  3. all sorts of disorders in the work of the endocrine system can affect the decrease in blood pressure. For example, a state of low blood sugar is often accompanied by a decrease in blood pressure;
  4. increased fluid loss from the body. As a rule, dehydration occurs due to physical exertion, vomiting and diarrhea;
  5. anaphylactic shock. Serious allergic reactions can be accompanied not only by problems with the respiratory system, but also by swelling, itching and lowering blood pressure below normal;
  6. anemia and prolonged fasting provoke a deficiency of B vitamins, as well as folic acid. And this, as a rule, negatively affects the level of blood pressure.

80 to 40

Generally, low blood pressure can pass from parent to child.

70 to 50

There may be many. As a rule, this is poor nutrition, physical inactivity and old age.

Low or high physical activity in athletes

It can also cause a decrease or increase in blood pressure in a person involved in sports.

It is important to note that the reasons for lowering blood pressure may be factors such as:

  1. internal infections;
  2. taking medication;
  3. hormonal disorders;
  4. hypothermia of the body;
  5. avitaminosis;
  6. bad habits;
  7. big loss of blood;
  8. stress, depression;
  9. anemia;
  10. trauma to the brain or spinal cord;
  11. improper nutrition.

What diseases are associated with low blood pressure?

Low blood pressure can be congenital or acquired. As a rule, various external reasons can affect its occurrence.

Among the diseases that provoke hypotension are:

  1. vegetative-vascular dystonia. This phenomenon and the discoordination of the vascular center in the medulla oblongata lead to the fact that the lumen of the blood vessels almost does not narrow when the external environmental conditions change, and the pressure does not remain at the required level, which is extremely important for the normal functioning of the body;
  2. cerebral atherosclerosis. This disease is diagnosed mainly in elderly people. Vessels are not able to change their lumen very quickly. Among other things, the blood supply to the vascular center is significantly deteriorating against the background of all the same atherosclerotic changes in the arteries, veins and capillaries of the brain.

Effects

It is important to note that hypotension in itself does not pose any danger to the body. It can be counted among the symptoms that signal the presence of health problems.

Very often, low blood pressure indicates that there is a certain failure in the functionality of the cardiovascular system.

It is important to note that people who have low blood pressure on a regular basis are more likely to experience heart attacks and strokes.

Medical treatment

Paying attention to the distinctive features of hypotension, it should be noted that this disease does not need treatment.

More precisely, conventional therapy using drugs will be useless. It is necessary to eliminate the cause of this condition.

If it is a disease of any organ, then a certain course of treatment should be carried out to normalize the condition. It is very important to change your lifestyle.

ethnoscience

It is important to note that non-traditional therapies use certain herbs that normalize blood pressure readings. Useful herbs include echinacea, and so on.

Along with the use of herbal stimulants, you need to pay attention to nutrition, which must certainly be balanced, varied and environmentally friendly.

Related videos

About the causes of low pressure in the video:

If at hand there were no special medications that normalize low pressure, then you can take an infusion based on any sedative herbs. It could be or.

Blood pressure is measured in two indicators - systolic and diastolic, each of which has its own corridors of normal values. By generally accepted standards, for upper pressure this range is from 90 to 140 mm Hg. Art. For the lower indicator, normal numbers are from 58-64 to 89 mm Hg. Art.

According to statistics, low blood pressure is less common in men than in women. This is partly due to the earlier development of hypertension.

In older people, the limit of normal pressure rises to 140/90 mm Hg. Art., while for a healthy middle-aged person, the norm is a pressure of 120/80 mm Hg. Art.

What to do if the lower indicator goes down from the figure 50 and lower than it can threaten a person, and what measures can be taken in such a situation.


The reasons

The primary sources of low diastolic pressure are various factors. The latter can be both physiological and eliminated through proper treatment, and pathological.

What can be attributed to the main reasons why the lower pressure decreases:

  • Osteochondrosis in the region of the cervical vertebrae.
  • Astheno-neurotic syndrome. Some subtleties of the structure of the nervous system lead to a weakening of the vascular walls.
  • Avitaminosis. Especially if you lack vitamins B, E or C.
  • Blood loss due to severe trauma or menstruation in women, accompanied by too much discharge.
  • Hypothyroidism. Reduced levels of thyroid hormones leads to relaxation of blood vessels and a decrease in pressure.
  • Prolonged use of antidepressants such as MAO inhibitors or tricyclic substances.
  • Decrease in the amount of hemoglobin.
  • Vegetative-vascular dystonia of hypotonic type. In this case, due to the autonomic nervous system, the elasticity of the vessels is disturbed.
  • Insufficient production of renin due to severe kidney disease. This substance provides vascular tone.
  • Infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, E. coli and other diseases.
  • Marijuana.
  • Meteorological sensitivity of a person, which manifests itself during travel or with a sharp change in weather conditions. This is especially true for people in the middle and older age groups. On average, 10 days are enough for acclimatization, however, everyone can have their own individual pace of adjustment to new living conditions.

One of the possible causes of a decrease in diastolic pressure may be a violation of the water and electrolyte balance. The latter can often occur after diarrhea or from frequent bouts of vomiting. Additionally, you should be careful when taking medications. The same means to combat hypertension often lead to weakening of the walls of blood vessels.

How does it manifest

Symptoms characteristic of a person with low lower pressure:

  • Headache, which often acquires a pressing character.
  • Discomfort in the chest.
  • The appearance of spots, flies before the eyes, vision loses clarity.
  • Dizziness.
  • Frequent feelings of anxiety, irritation or apathy.
  • An increase in heart rate.
  • Chilliness in limbs.
  • Drowsiness increases, there is a constant feeling of weakness, the level of energy decreases, it is difficult for a person to work and concentrate.
  • Sweating increases.
  • Orthostatic collapse occurs. In this state, with a sharp rise, there is a darkening in the eyes, or the appearance of colored flies. A vivid example is a sharp rise from the bed. Sometimes it is accompanied by loss of consciousness.

How is hypotension diagnosed?

Regardless of how long and how severe the symptoms of low lower pressure appear, in order to bring the body into a normal working and healthy state, it is necessary to visit a cardiologist and a neurologist. First of all, it is necessary to look for the source of such changes in the work of the cardiovascular system. Depending on the cause, there is also the right treatment.

To determine why the heart and kidney pressure is low, or only the lower pressure, you will need to undergo a series of tests and examinations.

These include:

  • Electrocardiography.
  • Blood chemistry.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging of the heart.
  • If it comes to hormonal disorders, then an ultrasound of the thyroid gland and a blood test for hormones will be required.
  • Additionally, the doctor may prescribe an examination of the kidneys, lungs, blood vessels, and spine.

Low pressure

How to learn to cope with low lower pressure?

How to properly raise the lower pressure, especially if at the same time the upper one, or, as it is also called, venous, is at around 140 and above.

Folk remedies are often used as methods of treatment. They can be applied and done if the lower blood pressure falls, and the upper one remains normal under the same circumstances.

Let's give an example of folk recipes that can be used if a person's kidney pressure decreases, and at the same time the upper one either also falls or remains in a normal state.

You can use this treatment for no more than a month.

Taking medicines, even on a plant basis, can not always give a positive result. Consider the two most common drugs.

When should you beware of hypotension?

Often, low diastolic pressure means that a person has negative processes in the body that require urgent medical intervention.

For what symptoms you need to call an ambulance in the table below.

SymptomsPossible consequences
Dyspneamyocardial infarction
Weakness
Pain in the chest area
Nauseaarrhythmia attack
Strong headache
Hand shake
Anxiety
Flies before the eyesCirculatory disorders in the brain
Speech disorder
Dizziness
Violation of facial expressions and the functioning of the motor system
Any kind of bleedingDepending on the situation, severe blood loss is possible, urgent medical intervention may be required.
pressure drop

Products that help raise lower pressure

If a person has consistently low lower blood pressure, they may benefit from including the following foods in their diet:


In addition to the right diet, it is important to create the right daily routine. For hypotensive patients, characterized by low upper and lower pressure, healthy stable sleep and the presence of a large amount of fresh air are important.

Reduced lower pressure does not always mean that there are certain pathologies in the body. However, in order to exclude them, you need to monitor your condition.

And if pressure indicators such as 115/65 can be a temporary phenomenon, then with a decrease in diastolic pressure to 40-45 units, it can lead to serious consequences. Therefore, you should seek qualified medical help in time.

Video: Blood pressure. What does low pressure mean?

Few people think about the dangers of low blood pressure in humans. Moreover, in modern society, there is often an erroneous opinion that the antagonist of hypotension - arterial hypertension - really threatens health. The development of heart failure, impaired cerebral circulation - the list of negative consequences of hypertension can be continued indefinitely. However, this does not mean at all that the reduced does not pose a threat to the patient's life.

What determines the level of blood pressure?

Blood, moving through the vessels, exerts pressure on their walls. The presence or absence of a generally accepted normal blood pressure indicator (120/80) is determined by several factors:

  • degree of vascular resistance;
  • cardiac functionality;
  • total blood volume.

Despite the fact that many people do not consider deviations from standard values ​​to be a pathology at all, since all systems and organs work as they should, physicians have known for a long time what is dangerously low pressure in a person.

What does blood pressure say?

In addition to the external manifestations of this condition in the form of general weakness of the body, shortness of breath, dizziness and loss of coordination, hypotension can cause more serious consequences. The first alarm signals received by the patient must necessarily serve as a reason for seeking advice from specialists. In addition, if the danger of low pressure has receded, which quite often lulls the vigilance of patients, this does not mean at all that a recurrence is not expected.

By itself, blood pressure is an indicator that can indicate violations in the work of such vital organs as the lungs, heart, and circulatory system. This predetermines the need for regular pressure measurements, especially since its value is not static and constant. You can find out why low blood pressure is dangerous in a person by familiarizing yourself with the characteristics of blood circulation.

Systolic and in humans

As you know, when measuring the pressure of a patient, doctors draw conclusions about his condition in two quantities:

  1. Systolic pressure is the upper indicator showing the level of pressure during the ejection of blood into the aorta.
  2. Diastolic pressure - the lower indicator, fixes the moment of blood entering the vena cava.

If the first criterion is able to determine the blood pressure during its transportation through the vessels from the heart to other vital organs, then the second one indicates its value in the intervals between heart contractions. At the moment of short-term relaxation of the myocardium, blood pressure is measured.

What pressure is considered normal?

Probably everyone knows that 120/80 is the most familiar indicator, which is considered an unconditional norm. Although recently, experts have begun to assert with greater confidence that the most comfortable blood pressure for a person is 115/75.

It is difficult to determine what critical low pressure is dangerous for a person, as well as to find out the norm for the same person. The fact is that blood pressure, at which the patient's well-being is satisfactory, is a purely individual value. It is almost impossible to establish with accuracy that this particular indicator is optimal for a particular person.

What are the characteristics of low blood pressure?

Meanwhile, doctors around the world consider BP 90/60 unequivocally low. Whether low pressure is dangerous for a person with such indicators depends largely on what he feels at that moment, what the symptoms are.

The most common manifestations of hypotension, in which the thought of pathology immediately arises, are:

  • Regular drowsiness, lethargy, rapid fatigue. Any activity (physical, mental) leads to instant fatigue, after rest and a night's sleep, relief, as a rule, does not occur.
  • Headaches (cephalgia with reduced pressure often occupies the occipital and temporal lobes; the nature and intensity of the pain syndrome is similar to migraine: monotonous, pulsating or dull).
  • Nausea, vomiting.
  • Frequent dizziness, short-term loss of consciousness, impaired coordination of movements.
  • Irritability, inattention, distraction.

Is low blood pressure dangerous? This can be determined based on the above symptoms. Such signs of hypotension can deliver great discomfort and suffering to the patient. How to avoid it? You can prevent the development of pathology, especially if you are not at risk. But even if this is not the case, it is still possible to help yourself. The reasons why a systolic or diastolic blood count may fall are presented below.

Causes of low diastolic pressure

With reduced diastolic pressure, common signs of hypotension appear in the form of impotence, dizziness and nausea. The ideal indicator is the one that is less than systolic by 30-40 mm Hg. Art. This leads to the establishment of a common norm of 120/80 with a difference of 40 mm Hg. Art. The diastolic value is considered low if the discrepancy between it and the systolic indicator is more than 50 units.

Many patients do not immediately identify themselves with low blood pressure, regularly suffering from symptoms of weakness. Even fewer people, having discovered that they have a disease, go to the doctor with this problem, because not everyone knows how dangerous low blood pressure is in humans, especially if such a deviation does not cause significant trouble and inconvenience. A person's well-being at low lower pressure depends on the causative factors that provoked changes in blood circulation. The most common ones are:

  • heart failure;
  • kidney failure or chronic adrenal disease;
  • allergic reactions;
  • pain shock;
  • thyroid disorders.

How to prevent hypotension?

It is the low reasons for which are indicated above that deserve special attention. How to increase the diastolic rate, every person should know. In the end, such knowledge may one day be useful to someone else.

Following the rules of a healthy lifestyle, as well as sufficient time in the fresh air and moderate physical activity, is the main secret to the normalization of diastolic blood pressure. Regular and full night sleep for 7-8 hours is undoubtedly also an important guarantee of excellent health. But taking medication with low diastolic pressure is a serious step that is best done together with your doctor.

What causes low diastolic pressure?

What is the danger of low diastolic pressure in a person, if its indicator is able to drop even to the level of 40 mm Hg. Art., interesting to all patients with hypotension. Feeling bad is not everything. The fact is that reduced blood pressure does not allow delivering the necessary amount of blood to the heart and brain, and with it oxygen. Hypoxia of these vital organs is the main threat posed by low pressure in the blood vessels. Such a complication, like cardiogenic shock, is a direct consequence of oxygen starvation.

Fainting and stroke are also very likely to develop at critical levels of lower (diastolic) pressure. In addition, a radical restructuring of the structure of the arteries due to the long course of hypotension ultimately leads to the transition of the disease to a more dangerous form of cardiovascular disease - hypertension. In this form, the disease is much more severe.

Causes of Low Systolic Pressure

Diastolic indicators below the norm indicate the possible development of serious pathological processes, primarily from the cardiovascular system. Meanwhile, low upper blood pressure is often associated with other causes, including:

  • tachycardia, arrhythmia, bradycardia (heart rhythm disturbances);
  • pathological features of the functioning of the heart valve;
  • diabetes;
  • first trimester of pregnancy;
  • excessive physical activity.

The systolic indicator gives detailed information about the intensity with which the cardiac "pump" pushes the blood out. Within the normal range, its value is about 110-120 mm Hg. Art. It is possible to understand what low pressure is dangerous for a person and how great the threat is by critical indicators of both diastolic and systolic indicators. With extremely low blood pressure, the patient often loses consciousness. With systolic 60 mm Hg. Art. gradually loses touch with reality, it becomes cloudy in the eyes, the legs become "cotton". It is important to have time to call someone for help while it is possible.

To help the patient, it is necessary to lay him in such a horizontal position that the legs are higher than the level of the head.

The threat of low systolic pressure

The lowest pressure in a person is considered critical when its upper values ​​are in the range of 40-60 mm. rt. Art. The patient is already unconscious, and if such pressure remains for 7-8 minutes or more, then the person can leave this world. The heart rate also drops to a minimum and can be 45-60 beats per minute. an ambulance and the arrival of a team of doctors will give the patient a chance for recovery. However, the consequences of the state he endured can leave an indelible mark on his life until the end of his days.

Danger for a pregnant woman

The danger of low pressure in systolic values ​​is present during pregnancy. This is due to hormonal changes in the body. An acceptable decrease in the upper indicators is considered to be a decrease to 10 mm Hg. Art., and lower - up to 15 units. Blood pressure in pregnant women generally reaches its minimum at 22-24 weeks.

Such a decrease is not considered dangerous either for the fetus or for the expectant mother. Meanwhile, fainting is a common symptom. Loss of consciousness often leads to falls, which is a potential threat to the baby. Dehydration, which is often diagnosed in pregnant women, can also provoke a decrease in blood pressure.

Classification of hypotension

Low blood pressure is divided into several types:

  1. Orthostatic Most often occurs with a sharp change in body position (with a sharp rise), when blood flow to the limbs increases, and the heartbeat does not increase. It is characterized by concomitant attacks of dizziness, loss of coordination, in rare cases even consciousness. It is this type of hypotension that is often found in pregnant women, despite the fact that the elderly are considered the main risk group for the onset of the disease.
  2. Postprandial hypotension manifests itself in patients of the older age group after eating.
  3. Vegetovascular dystonia is the most common type of hypotonic type of disease. Such a decrease in pressure is observed in patients under hot weather conditions, with overwork, stress, etc. The disease is often found in young people.

Today, everyone should know the dangers of low blood pressure in humans. With a rapid heartbeat and pulse, it is difficult for the heart to pump blood through the vessels, which means that the supply of oxygen to the limbs and organs becomes insufficient. To normalize the pressure, you need to take a contrast shower and carefully massage the body with a special massage brush. You can’t get carried away with such a famous remedy for low pressure as coffee or chocolate: for a one-time relief, this is an excellent solution, but if the decrease in arterial parameters has become regular, you should definitely consult a doctor.

How to normalize low blood pressure?

The specialist will be able to confirm or exclude the diagnosis, prescribe appropriate medications if necessary, and monitor the patient's condition. Self-medication can be life-threatening.

Arterial hypotension is a condition in which a person's blood pressure (BP) drops significantly below normal levels. Hypotension can be considered an acute or chronic drop in blood pressure below 100/60 mm. rt. Art. for men and 90/60 mm. rt. Art. for women.

In some cases, the readings of the tonometer, characterizing arterial hypotension, do not always indicate pathology - the individual adaptive abilities of the body may also be the cause of low pressure. When the pressure drops to 90/60 mm. rt. Art. arterial hypotension is diagnosed in all cases. Low pressure - how much? The figures given are only approximate indicators, for some people they may differ, and there is no answer to the question that satisfies all patients: “what pressure is considered low”.

This article will discuss the classification of arterial hypotension, its symptoms and features, as well as advice on what to do if the pressure has dropped.

Physiological arterial hypotension

Physiological arterial hypotension is a condition in which the systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure in a person is below the generally established normal, but despite this, they are not considered pathological. This feature may arise due to the individual variant of the norm of blood pressure (special "working" blood pressure).

In addition, many athletes and residents of some regions (Arctic, tropics, high mountains, etc.) also often have low blood pressure, the causes of which are the adaptive abilities of the body.

Acute arterial hypotension

Acute arterial hypotension is a condition in which the pressure can become very low (as a rule, it comes on suddenly, sometimes it counts for minutes), often posing a danger to the patient's life and requiring emergency medical care.

Reduced heart pressure in an acute form, which is a disease, is called pathological.

An acute decrease in pressure, representing a particular danger, can be expressed in the following forms:

  • Collapse

A form of vascular insufficiency caused by a change in circulating blood volume and / or an instantaneous drop in vascular tone. In addition to lowering blood pressure, collapse is dangerous due to hypoxia (oxygen starvation) of the brain and a decrease in blood supply to all vital organs.

A sharp, sustained and prolonged drop in systolic (upper) blood pressure, accompanied by a sharp decrease in blood supply to vital organs.

Causes of acute arterial hypotension

The causes of a sharp drop in blood pressure include the following factors and disorders:

  • loss of a large volume of blood;
  • dehydration of the body;
  • poisoning and intoxication conditions;
  • state of anaphylactic shock;
  • severe injuries (especially craniocerebral);
  • alcohol or drug intoxication;
  • disturbances in the work of the heart.

The most common causes of low are body structure features: women with a thin physique suffer from arterial hypotension several times more often. Low blood pressure is also often found in women during pregnancy, which is associated with the adaptive abilities of the body - it simply does not have time to “rebuild” its work in accordance with the new weight of a person. Anemia can also be the cause of constant low pressure during this period.

Arterial hypertension, if not properly treated, can cause a decrease in blood pressure. In this case, after emergency measures, a mandatory adjustment of drugs that reduce blood pressure is required, which should be carried out only by a qualified specialist. Self-adjustment of these drugs can lead to severe and irreversible consequences on the part of the cardiovascular system.

Old age is a relative risk factor for the development of arterial hypotension; in official medicine, people with low blood pressure of young and even adolescence are often found.

Vegetovascular dystonia as a cause of low blood pressure, compared with the age factor, occurs several times more often. Poor functioning of the central nervous system affects the disruption of communication between the heart and other organs, which ultimately leads to arterial hypotension.

Chronic arterial hypotension

Hypotension is a chronic arterial hypotension that requires constant support of the body with appropriate medications. May have one of the following forms or a combination of them:

  1. Neurocirculatory arterial hypotension is a disease that worsens the patient's well-being, but does not exclude the possibility of his recovery.
  2. Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is a pathology in which low pressure is observed only with a sharp transition of the patient from a horizontal to a vertical position. This condition is due to a violation (decrease) in blood flow to the brain. It differs by a short period of action - the time during which the first symptoms of a decrease in pressure appear, and their complete disappearance occurs, is usually a few minutes. Most often, patients suffer from orthostatic hypotension in the morning, immediately after sleep. OH is dangerous not only by the possibility of loss of consciousness, but also by an increased risk of stroke, especially in the elderly.
  3. Essential arterial hypotension is a disease with an independent course, the cause of which, as a rule, is neurosis, stress, high intellectual stress, etc. Such a diagnosis primarily affects the vasomotor center of the brain.

When determining the type of arterial hypotension in women (primary or secondary) during the period of gestation, the time of its occurrence is taken into account. Secondary hypotension will be a disease that appeared during pregnancy itself (with some exceptions), all other forms of this pathology are classified as primary arterial hypotension.

Causes of chronic arterial hypotension

Persistent low blood pressure is not always an independent disease - it often occurs as a consequence or complication of another previously diagnosed diagnosis or pathological condition. Causes of low blood pressure include:

  • osteochondrosis of the cervical spine;
  • some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract - stomach ulcers, pancreatitis, etc .;
  • anemia;
  • hepatitis;
  • cystitis;
  • tuberculosis;
  • rheumatism;
  • alcoholism;
  • diabetes mellitus and other diseases of the endocrine system;
  • diseases of the respiratory system;
  • cirrhosis of the liver;
  • intoxication;
  • side effects of certain drugs (in this case, the appropriate solution would be to cancel them);
  • violations of blood supply and work of the cardiovascular system;
  • lack of vitamins E, C and B5.

Treatment of secondary arterial hypertension implies, first of all, the elimination of the cause that caused it. In order to find out why a person's blood pressure drops in such cases, additional laboratory and diagnostic studies will be required.

Symptoms of arterial hypotension

Symptoms of low blood pressure are typical of other diseases of the cardiovascular system. Patients with hypotension usually report the following complaints:

  • dizziness (sometimes reaching up to fainting);
  • blanching and numbness of the skin, as well as other signs of VVD;
  • general weakness and fatigue;
  • clouding in the eyes;
  • quickening of breathing.

Migraine attacks, as a sign of a drop in pressure, have some specific features: they disturb the patient after mental and physical exertion (but can appear immediately after sleep), have a long-lasting (sometimes up to 2-3 days) effect, and are aggravated by sound and light influence. are symmetrical on both sides. By its nature, such a headache is usually throbbing, dull. Area of ​​low pressure (place of localization of pain) - forehead, temples, crown of the head.

Another common symptom of low blood pressure is nausea and vomiting. They are found mainly in weather-dependent people, patients affected by sunstroke or dehydration. Low blood pressure caused by poisoning or an overdose of BP-lowering drugs is also often accompanied by nausea. The development and duration of this symptom can proceed in different ways; in some patients, nausea in acute forms of the disease can last several hours.

Symptoms of low blood pressure include other disorders of the gastrointestinal tract: bloating, belching, constipation and intestinal colic.

Symptoms of low blood pressure in orthostatic hypotension practically do not differ from the general symptoms of the disease: tinnitus, dizziness, darkening of the eyes, lethargy, a feeling of chronic fatigue, inability to take a relaxing position. Some patients with hypotension experience a feeling of lack of air and are forced to take a deep breath, but they do not experience shortness of breath, in most cases there are no causes that cause it. Reduced blood pressure in all these cases can be supplemented directly by the diseases of the cardiovascular system themselves.

In some patients, at the initial stage of the disease, signs of low pressure may be absent, but this is rather an exception to the rule.

Arterial hypotension in children

Predisposition to arterial hypotension in children develops during the period of fetal formation. It is caused by violations of the normal course of pregnancy in the mother of the child. Reduced blood pressure in this case usually makes itself felt only when a child reaches adolescence, the following factors cause it:

  • hormonal changes in the body;
  • overwork due to school;
  • low level of physical activity;
  • infectious diseases (complaints of low blood pressure usually come during the recovery period);
  • unbalanced diet and eating disorders;
  • headache;
  • nausea.

Signs of low blood pressure in children with mild hypotension disappear with a passion for the game, after sleeping and walking in the fresh air. If the cause of an acute form of arterial hypotension in a child is overwork, in many cases a short break is enough to eliminate it.

Among all forms of hypotension, orthostatic hypotension is most common in children. When a child has a chronic form of the disease, his feelings of suspicion and resentment become aggravated, he becomes whiny and absent-minded. In older school age, this disease is usually expressed not only in the form of low blood pressure, but also pain in the heart.

Arterial hypotension in the elderly

Elderly people are much more likely to suffer from the opposite disease - arterial hypertension. There are also situations when a patient has suffered from hypotension all his life, and with an appropriate lifestyle at retirement age, it goes away on its own due to a natural increase in blood pressure.

Arterial hypotension in elderly patients usually has an orthostatic form. Incorrect "stopping" of such conditions or not paying due attention to them can lead to a stroke and even to dementia (senile dementia).

In the elderly, low blood pressure is often observed with an overdose of antihypertensive drugs. Due to pressure drop below 100/60 mm. rt. Art. patients with hypertension require medication adjustments.

Low heart pressure under the influence of other cardiovascular diseases may be manifested by a decrease in only systolic or diastolic blood pressure, and not both at once.

Systolic arterial hypotension

In some patients, low blood pressure is due to a violation of only one - systolic or diastolic indicator. As in the case of general arterial hypotension, the norm of such blood pressure is different for everyone. 100 mm. rt. Art. - the average minimum value for an ordinary healthy person who is not an athlete and does not live in specific climatic conditions.

The causes of low systolic pressure include the following diseases and pathological conditions:

  • bradycardia (especially if it is exposed to the patient in combination with arrhythmia);
  • dysfunction of the heart valve;
  • diabetes;
  • pregnancy (especially the first trimester);
  • increased physical activity.

Diastolic, i.e. lower blood pressure, with low upper pressure hypotension remains normal. Upper pressure 100 mm. rt. Art. not always hypotension (due to the individual characteristics of the patient and the conditions of his life), but with its periodic appearance, it will not be superfluous to consult a doctor.

Diastolic arterial hypotension

Lower blood pressure is fixed at the moment of relaxation of the heart muscle. Low diastolic pressure is considered as such if the difference between the upper and lower blood pressure is more than 60-70 mm. rt. Art.

Symptoms of diastolic hypotension include drowsiness, feeling powerless, lethargy, dizziness, and nausea. Patients diagnosed with low diastolic pressure are irritable and often become whiny.

The causes of this form of hypotension include the following diseases and pathological conditions:

  • kidney or heart failure;
  • vegetovascular dystonia;
  • allergic diseases;
  • shock conditions;
  • disorders in the thyroid gland.

Low diastolic pressure requires finding out the cause that caused it and its maximum possible elimination.

Diagnosis of arterial hypotension

Arterial hypotension is easily diagnosed using the blood pressure measurement procedure, but it is impossible to identify the disease immediately on the first measurement. To make a diagnosis or refute it, blood pressure monitoring is used for a time determined by the attending physician.

With low blood pressure and high heart rate, patients are advised to undergo an ECG and consult a cardiologist during treatment due to possible disturbances in the work of the heart. In such patients, hypotension can be combined with arrhythmia, extrasystole (untimely contraction of the heart or its individual chambers), bradycardia.

In addition to the ECG, a doctor may prescribe an ultrasound examination of the heart to establish cardiac output and phonocardiography to study heart sounds.

Treatment of arterial hypotension

Periodic pressure reduction up to 100/60 mm. rt. Art. in most cases - a reason to start therapy. Only a qualified specialist should determine how to normalize low blood pressure and choose the appropriate treatment plan. Even if individual hypotension seems uncomplicated, special understanding of what to do if the pressure has dropped sharply may be required.

Most often, arterial hypotension is not an independent disease, but a sign of other health problems. Treatment should be aimed at eliminating the cause of the fall in blood pressure. For example, if hypotension is caused by blood loss, it is necessary to stop bleeding and replenish the volume of circulating blood. If arterial hypotension occurs due to dehydration, it is necessary to replenish the water balance in the body.

For the treatment of hypotensive conditions, the following drugs are used:

  • herbal medicines based on eleutherococcus, ginseng, etc. (plant adaptogens). Available in the form of tinctures, tablets and capsules. Tinctures are intended for both systemic and "emergency" use. Herbal adaptogens do not affect the heart rate and in many cases are the drug of choice for patients with low blood pressure and high pulse;
  • caffeine sodium benzoate. Available in the form of tablets and solutions for injection. Its use is not recommended at low pressure and high heart rate, because the drug has a cardiotonic effect and increases heart rate;
  • cordiamine. Available in the form of drops and solutions for injection. It is used only in a hospital for an emergency rise in blood pressure.

Be careful if headaches have entered the area of ​​​​low pressure: Citramon or Askofen, which is often used to eliminate them, contains caffeine-sodium benzoate. Don't overdose them!

In the arsenal of doctors, there are more powerful drugs to increase blood pressure when it drops sharply. These are adrenaline, norepinephrine, mezaton, dopamine. These funds are used only in life-threatening situations.

Portal expert, doctor of the first category Nevelychuk Taras.

What to do in case of fainting?

Sometimes acute attacks of hypotension end in fainting. If you have such a disease in yourself or a loved one, you need to know what to do with low pressure, resulting in fainting. It is possible to provide assistance to people affected by fainting almost anywhere. To do this, you need to perform a number of the following steps:

  1. Lay the patient down with the legs elevated. If fainting occurs in a vehicle, sit the victim in such a way that the head leans to the knees as much as possible.
  2. Release the victim from everything that can squeeze the body - a tie, belt, etc.
  3. If possible, lightly splash cold water on the face, then pat the patient on the cheeks, make him breathe deeply.
  4. Give the victim to smell the cotton wool with ammonia.

If the pressure has dropped, it is not recommended to give validol to victims of fainting associated with this fall.

Lifestyle with arterial hypotension

Hypertension does not always require drug therapy. Understanding how to live with low blood pressure is very simple. All that is required for this is to observe a healthy lifestyle, adhere to proper nutrition, sleep and rest at the time of exertion. Physical activity should be moderate. The best exercises for hypotensive patients are jogging on a track, exercises on an exercise bike and swimming in a pool. These loads contribute to an increase in vascular tone.

With arterial hypotension, it is desirable to comply with the rules:

  1. Sleep should be not only full, but also long. To normalize the indicators, low heart pressure requires normal rest - you need to sleep 1-2 hours more than a healthy person.
  2. To give the vessels (which inevitably weaken with this disease) tone, the amount of liver, eggs, fruits and vegetables consumed in the diet should be increased. Taking food should be mostly protein.
  3. With hypotension, a contrast shower helps to maintain blood pressure in a normal state. In this case, the temperature of the water should be lowered gradually, over several weeks. After taking such a shower, to achieve an even greater effect, you can rub yourself well with a towel.
  4. Notify your doctor immediately of any changes in your condition and adhere to all prescribed prescriptions.
  5. If you often experience stress, try to avoid situations that cause it as much as possible.
  6. Before going to bed, patients with arterial hypotension are advised to hold their feet in cool water for 1-3 minutes, accompanying this with sharp movements, then put on woolen socks and walk around the room a little. Helps patients with this disease and periodic visits to physiotherapy, which are prescribed by a physiotherapist. You can significantly improve your condition with this disease with the help of spa treatment.

Before ascertaining hypotension, the doctor must establish for an individual patient his low blood pressure, since the standard pressure is 100 mm. rt. Art. not for everyone will be a threshold.

Review

Hypotension (low blood pressure, hypotension) is a condition in which blood pressure falls below normal levels.

For some people, hypotension is a natural condition that causes no symptoms and is not usually a cause for concern. However, if your blood pressure drops unusually low, it can restrict blood flow to your brain and other vital organs, resulting in unsteadiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting.

Consult a physician if you experience symptoms of hypotension. Adults should have their blood pressure checked at least once every five years. If you do not know how to measure blood pressure yourself, then contact your doctor.

Blood pressure - measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and recorded as two indicators:

  • systolic pressure: blood pressure when the heart contracts and pushes blood into the arteries;
  • diastolic pressure is the blood pressure when the heart muscle relaxes between two contractions.

For example, if your systolic blood pressure is 120 mm Hg. Art., and your diastolic blood pressure is 80 mm Hg. Art., your pressure is 120 over 80 and is usually written as 120/80 mm Hg. Art.

The normal blood pressure level is between 90/60 and 140/90. If the reading is 140/90 or more, you have high blood pressure (hypertension), which puts you at greater risk of serious heart disease, such as a heart attack or stroke. People with blood pressure levels less than 90/60 are usually considered hypotensive.

Low blood pressure can be due to many reasons, including: time of day, age, air temperature, medication, injury, and certain diseases. If hypotension causes unpleasant symptoms, then the doctor may prescribe treatment.

Low blood pressure symptoms

If low blood pressure is natural for you, it is unlikely that it will cause you any symptoms or require treatment. However, sometimes low blood pressure can mean that there is not enough blood flow to your brain and other vital organs, which can lead to symptoms such as:

  • dizziness;
  • pre-fainting state;
  • unsteadiness or a feeling of loss of balance;
  • fainting;
  • darkening in the eyes;
  • fast or irregular heartbeat (palpitations);
  • confused mind;
  • feeling of nausea;
  • general weakness.

If you experience low blood pressure symptoms after a change in body position, such as standing up, this is called postural or orthostatic hypotension. Symptoms should not last longer than a few seconds until your body adjusts to the new position and your blood pressure returns to normal. This type of low blood pressure affects people more as they get older, leading to more frequent falls. Similar symptoms may also appear after exercise. You should measure your blood pressure before and after changing your body position. For example, first in a sitting position, and then in a standing position. If the difference in your systolic pressure readings is between 15 and 30 mmHg. Art., then most likely you have orthostatic hypotension.

If symptoms appear after eating, then we are talking about the so-called postprandial (postprandial) hypotension, which is most common in older people, especially people with high blood pressure, Parkinson's disease and diabetes mellitus. After a meal, the digestive system needs a lot of blood to digest the food. If the heart rate does not increase enough to maintain the blood pressure, it will drop, causing symptoms of hypotension.

Some people experience symptoms of hypotension after standing for a long time. This is sometimes referred to as neuronal mediated hypotension. It most often affects children and young people.

If you think you may be experiencing episodes of low blood pressure, you should:

  • stop doing what you are currently doing;
  • sit or lie down;
  • drink some water.

Symptoms usually go away within seconds or minutes.

Causes of hypotension

Every time you take your blood pressure, it is important that you do it under the same conditions to ensure that the results are comparable. If low blood pressure is detected, your doctor will first consider possible situational causes of it, and only then - possible underlying causes.

It is normal for your blood pressure to change depending on what you do during the day. Stress at work, temperature, your diet can all affect your blood pressure readings. Many factors affect your heart and circulation throughout the day or even the hour. The following are situational factors that can cause low blood pressure.

  • Time of day – Your blood pressure goes down during the night and goes up during the day.
  • Your age – As you age, your blood pressure usually rises, but it is more common for your blood pressure to drop due to movement or food.
  • Being stressed or relaxed – the more relaxed you are, the lower your blood pressure
  • The amount of exercise you do - in the beginning, exercising raises your blood pressure, but if you exercise regularly in a healthy state, then your blood pressure will drop during the rest period.
  • Temperature - an increase in air temperature can cause your blood pressure to drop
  • After a meal, the blood will be used to digest the food in your stomach, which lowers the blood pressure in other areas of the body.

The main causes of low blood pressure (hypotension)

If low blood pressure cannot be explained by situational factors alone, more serious causes should be considered. Some possible options are described below.

Taking medication. Lowering the pressure can cause such groups of drugs as:

  • drugs to lower blood pressure;
  • beta-blockers - drugs that may be prescribed if you have heart problems;
  • alpha-blockers – medicines prescribed to lower blood pressure in people with high blood pressure (hypertension) and prostate problems (the prostate or prostate is a small gland in men located between the penis and bladder);
  • some antidepressants.

If you are prescribed a drug that can cause your blood pressure to drop, your doctor should discuss the possible side effects with you and have your blood pressure checked regularly.

Dehydration of the body (dehydration) can occur either as a result of excessive sweating in especially hot weather, or as a result of vomiting or diarrhea (diarrhea).

Severe illnesses or conditions. For a short-term (acute) illness, your blood pressure will be checked regularly as it is a good indicator of the severity of your illness. Heart disease, such as heart disease or a heart attack, can also cause low blood pressure because your heart may not be able to pump blood throughout the body.

Neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, damage your body's nervous system. The pressure may drop if the autonomic part of your nervous system is damaged. The autonomic nervous system regulates life processes in the body that you don't normally think about, such as sweating or digestion. It also regulates the expansion and contraction of your blood vessels. If there are problems with your autonomic nervous system and your blood vessels remain too dilated, this can lead to low blood pressure.

Hormonal disorders. Having a disease that disrupts the production of certain hormones in your body, such as diabetes or Addison's disease, can also cause low blood pressure. In Addison's disease, the immune system attacks and damages the adrenal glands, which are two small glands located just above your kidneys. They produce hormones that regulate blood pressure and maintain the balance of salt and water in your body. Low blood pressure can also occur due to damage to your adrenal glands, such as infections or tumors.

Causes of a sudden drop in pressure

Low blood pressure can be caused by serious injury or burns, especially if you've lost a lot of blood. Another possible cause is a state of shock after a serious injury.

Septic shock and toxic shock syndrome caused by bacterial infections. Bacteria attack the walls of small blood vessels, causing fluid to leak from the blood into surrounding tissues. This causes a significant drop in blood pressure.

Anaphylactic shock, or anaphylaxis, is caused by an allergic reaction in the body. During an allergic reaction, your body produces large amounts of the chemical histamine, which causes your blood vessels to dilate, resulting in a sudden and severe drop in blood pressure.

Cardiogenic shock occurs when your heart cannot supply enough blood to your body, causing your blood pressure to drop. This can happen during a heart attack.

Other causes of hypotension

Other possible causes of low blood pressure are listed below.

  • A mismatch in the connection between the heart and the brain is low blood pressure that occurs as a result of prolonged standing in a standing position (neuronally mediated hypotension). This happens when your body sends a signal to your brain that your blood pressure is too high when it is actually too low. Accordingly, your brain gives the command to slow down the heart rate, which leads to an even greater drop in blood pressure.
  • Anemia is a disease in which the amount of hemoglobin, or red blood cells, in the blood is below normal levels.
  • Long stay in bed.
  • Genetic Predisposition - A number of studies have examined the hypothesis that low blood pressure is genetically determined. If your parents have low blood pressure, you may be able to inherit it from them.

In some cases, there is no obvious cause for the low blood pressure.

Diagnosis of hypotension

Hypotension (low blood pressure, hypotension) can be easily diagnosed by measuring blood pressure.

Blood pressure is usually measured with a sphygmomanometer (manometer), a device that consists of a stethoscope, cuff, measuring device, an air blower, and a valve.

The cuff wraps around your arm and inflates to restrict blood flow to the arteries. The cuff is then slowly deflated while listening to the pulse with a stethoscope.

Listening to a pulse below the deflated cuff provides a reliable reading of your blood pressure. Many therapy rooms are now equipped with automatic (digital) blood pressure monitors that measure blood pressure and pulse using electrical sensors.

Before you start measuring your blood pressure, you should rest for at least five minutes and empty your bladder. To get an accurate blood pressure reading, you need to sit and not talk while taking your blood pressure.

After taking your blood pressure, your doctor or nurse will tell you your systolic pressure (for example, 120 mmHg) and diastolic pressure (for example, 80 mmHg) as two numbers, in this case 120 over 80 (120/ 80 mm Hg).

It is easy to diagnose low blood pressure, but identifying its cause is much more difficult. If there is a specific medical condition as the cause of the low blood pressure, then chances are you will experience other symptoms as well. You should discuss these with your doctor, who may recommend further tests.

Additional tests may include blood tests to check for anemia, measurement of your blood glucose levels, or an electrocardiogram (ECG) to check for possible abnormal heart rhythms.

Treatment of hypotension

Hypotension (low blood pressure, hypotension) usually requires treatment only when it causes severe symptoms. Treatment includes both general lifestyle advice and direct treatment that addresses the underlying causes of the disease. If your low blood pressure is natural and doesn't cause problems, treatment is rarely necessary.

  • Get up gradually - especially if it's getting out of bed in the morning. It can also be helpful to start with warm-up movements before lifting to increase your heart rate and improve blood circulation in the body. For example, before lifting, stretch if you are lying in bed, or cross your legs several times if you are sitting.
  • Avoid prolonged standing - this can help prevent neuronal mediated hypotension (low blood pressure caused by mismatched communication between the heart and brain).
  • Wear support stockings - sometimes called compression stockings, and they are tight, elastic socks or pantyhose. They provide extra pressure on the legs and abdomen to help improve circulation and raise blood pressure. However, it is best to discuss this with your doctor first because it is not suitable for everyone.
  • Avoiding caffeine in the evening and limiting your alcohol intake can help you stay hydrated, which can cause low blood pressure.
  • Eat more often and in small portions - this will help prevent the occurrence of the so-called post-prandial hypotension, (lowering pressure after eating). Lying down or sitting for a bit after eating can help too.

Dehydration (dehydration) can cause low blood pressure. An increase in fluid and salt intake helps to cope with it. If you drink more liquid, this leads to an increase in blood volume and an increase in blood pressure. Also check with your doctor how much extra salt you need and if you can add salt to your regular meals or if you need to take salt tablets. It is best not to increase the amount of salt in your diet without consulting your doctor.

If your doctor thinks that the drugs you are using are causing your blood pressure to drop, he may prescribe an alternative drug or adjust your dose. When taking medication, you should monitor your blood pressure and record changes in it. Tell your doctor if you experience any side effects while taking this medicine.

If your low blood pressure is caused by a specific medical condition, your doctor may refer you to a specialist for further tests and treatment. For example, if your low blood pressure is due to a hormonal disorder (see Causes of Low Blood Pressure), you may be referred to an endocrinologist who can prescribe hormone replacement therapy for you.

Drugs for the treatment of low blood pressure are prescribed only in very rare cases. Symptoms of hypotension can usually be managed by making the lifestyle changes described above, such as increasing fluid and salt intake. If treatment is needed, it will usually include drugs to increase blood volume or narrow the arteries. By increasing blood volume or narrowing the arteries, your blood pressure will rise as more blood flows through a smaller area of ​​vessels.

Which doctor should I contact for hypotension?

If you want to cure low blood pressure,. If you're experiencing symptoms other than low blood pressure, use our Who Treats It section to find out which specialist you should see.

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